Case study in a developing country - Malaria
Location
Global malaria risk
Malaria is usually found between the An important line of latitude located at 23.5° north of the Equator. in the north and the An important line of latitude located at 23.5° south of the Equator. in the south. There are a number of human and Natural factors such as the type of land, the climate and the presence of water. which contribute to the worldwide spread of malaria.
The Malaria cycle
Causes of Malaria
Physical
- Temperatures must be between 15 and 40°C with high rainfall – this makes the tropics ideal.
- The presence of the female The type of mosquitoes that spread malaria..
- The amount of water vapour in the atmosphere measured as a percentage. of 60 per cent and above.
- Stagnant water, eg a lake or even a puddle, needed to lay The newly hatched, wingless and wormlike form of a mosquito before metamorphosis into an insect..
- Areas of Trees and plants. for shade to digest blood.
Human
- Houses create areas of shade for the A small flying insect. to rest.
- Global air travel contributes to the spread – 'When malaria is brought into a country on aircraft.'.
- Settlements provide large populations for blood meals.
- Poor Measures to help cleanliness and hygiene. in shanty towns.
- Manmade areas of Water that is still and does not move. water, eg Fields where rice is grown..
The effects of Malaria
Malaria is spread as the female anopheles mosquito bites a person and passes the An organism that lives in another organism such as humans. into their bloodstream, infecting them with malaria. Mosquitoes can also pick up the parasite from an infected human and then pass it on when they bite someone else.
